Jeff Barnett, 11 years ago

That last message was typed while I was running out of the office. I was referencing this move by the former Governor of California http://articles.latimes.com/2004/aug/05/local/me-arnold5

And I do feel that many blue state business owners could be convinced to make the jump with an outbound effort by our governor and a select committee of folks who already have. Here’s my story:

Since moving I have found talent that hasn’t cost as much. People in Texas don’t have to make as much to live as well because the housing market hasn’t gone crazy like many parts of the country. The cost to lease or build commercially are also lower here. This is just a fact and it is a competitive advantage. I live in a 3300 sqft house in a golf course community that I have fixed exactly the way I want it. Total cost was 300K. In Chicagoland in the depths of their recession I couldn’t have got the house with the professional class neighbors I have for under 700K. That 400K difference is in my business and my lifestyle didn’t have to suffer to keep it there. I can go to Astros, Texans, and Rockets games at a fraction of what the Bulls, Bears, and Cubs tickets cost. I can also park a heck of a lot closer. (Newer massive cities have some real advantages.) Yes, Broadway tours stop here after they go through Chicago so we have to wait a month or two longer for them, but when they arrive they still have the bulk of the original cast and the same applies for tickets/parking as with professional sports. Going into the City (Houston) is way more fun and less stressful than in Chicago. I and my employees pay about $.30/Gal less for gas. The tax savings is roughly 100K a year in my company vs Illinois and we are talking about an organization with 10 people including myself. My kids go to a fantastic private school that costs 12K a year. Comparable in the suburbs of Chicagoland would have been 20K easy. Texas is becoming amazingly cosmopolitan. There are transplants from all over the world here. (insert your wildest dreams about traveling the world as a foodie, now consider that in a 40 mile radius.)

I could go on, but the thing I liked most about coming here is the general attitude. Owning a business is a good thing, it’s not demonized like it was in Illinois. Our leaders treat us like valuable members of the community, not resources to be drained. While much of the country seems to feel like it is the Cater years again or we are stuck in 2010, Texas feels like the rest of the country did in the mid 80s or the late 90’s. Things in Texas aren’t perfect, just better.

That said I still love Illinois and wish them well under their new governor. I still get back there once a year and drop some money on the Magnificent Mile. No disrespect was intended to the Windy City, but unless Illinois learns the lesson that Texas they will keep losing businesses and people. That said I would welcome the contact from any business owner / CEO who is considering making the move

Jeff Barnett
Texas Flange & Fitting Supply, Inc. (an Illinois registered company ran exclusively out of Lombard, Illinois, left in 2002 after Illinois went dark blue.)
B & C Homes, LLC (local real estate investment company) – No, I don’t want to sell anyone anything and that is not the purpose of this post.
Propitiation Valve & Fitting Supply, Inc. (an Illinois register company)